Milk bottle crate



May 9, 1933.

` R. A.STODDARD 1,907,606

MILK BOTTLE CRATE I Filed Jan. 31, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l W71. E

May 9, 1933.

R. sToDDARD 1,907,606

MILK BOTTLE CRATE Filed Jan. 5l. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a '7? y? I /20 M, 'f1

Mill 55 j/ W (Il l 4.4 M? E1 IHMv 53 f- 26 fr@ 2l`y ((((((l 3 55 F .5. FZ \zy'g J0 k mi de y Il y Mfg n r4 2 I5 l) i@ Z9 Www-f H /14 4j y /42 E@ 45 Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT ol-FICE ROBERT STODDARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, SSIGNOB TO MILK BOTTLE CRATE A COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OI' ILLINOIS MILK BOTTLE CRATE application' mea January 31,'1ea1. sensi 1ro. 512,537.

This inventionrelates to certainhiovel improvements in crates and more particularly to crates of the character used for transportin milk bottles and the like.

tegulations covering the transportation of milk and the like require that crates be thoroughly cleaned after each use thereof and also specify the type of structure to be used. It is, therefore, the salient object of my invention to provide a crate of this character which willfcomply with the structural regulations ralating thereto and one which will be of a construction that will withstand frequent washing and rough usage.

During the transportation of bottled milk in crates it is desirable that it be cooled but due to the open construction of crates considerable diiiiculty has been encountered in retaining the refrigerant about the bottles. Moreover, when ice is used vas a refrigerant, it is desirable that Vthe water resulting from the melting thereof be caused to iow down over the bottles to more effectively cool the same. lIt is, therefore, another object to provide a crate wherein a refrigerant such as ice may be retained about the bottles and wherein the liquid resulting from the melting of the refrigerant will be caused to flow thereover.

Further objects are to provide a crate wherein the dividing rails for the bottles will be rigidly supported in position; wherein the supporting rails on which the bottles rest will be firmly anchored; wherein the sides of the crate will be effectively reenforced to prevent crushing thereof; wherein the dividing and supporting rails will be held against displacement in event of breakage of the walls of the crate; and wherein reenforcement for the various parts will 4be provided to produce sufficient rigidity without increasing the cost of construction and the weight of the crate.

.In the selected embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawlngsa Y Fig. 1 is a top plan view; Y

Fig. 2V is a transverse sectional viewtaken' substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is aV longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4:--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating a modified forml of construction;

, Fig. 7 is la sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View of a modified form of construction of that disclosed in Fig. 8;'and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional'view showing a modified form of construction for the retention of the supporting rails.

The crate illustrated in the accompanying drawings is of the open bottom type and includes side walls 8 and 9 and end walls 10 and 11. The opposite ends ofthe end Walls 10 and 11 are rabbeted on the inner faces thereof and the ends ofthe side walls are disposed in these rabbeted portions and the wall are suitably connected together as by nailing when the crates are made of wood. Preferably the Walls consist of a plurality of boards and in the present instance the side wall 8 consists of three boards 12, 13 and 14:4 arranged one above the other with adjacent edges in spaced relation but if desired this wall and each of the other walls may be made from a single board, without departing from the ambit of the invention. Similarly the side wall 9 consists of three boards 15, 16 and 17 likewise arranged one above the other with adjacent edges in spaced relation. As best shown in Fig. 3, the end wall 10 consists of two boards 18 and 19 while the end wall 11 consists of two boards 20 and 21 and the boards of the end walls are arranged one above the other with adjacent edges disposed in spaced relation. At the lower edges of the end walls are protecting strips22 and 23 each consistingof a strip of metal with corresponding marginal edges thereof arranged in rabbeted grooves in the outer faces of the lowermost boards of each end wall at the lower edges thereof but if desired these marginal edges may be extended over the outer faces of the walls. A section rai s as being arr-anged in pairs.

of each strip extends at right angles to these marginal portions across t e lower edges of the end walls and other portions are bent at right angles to these last portions and are extended over the inner faces of the walls. Rivets or other suitable securing devices extend through the end walls and these lastnamed portlons to secure the protecting strips in position and if desired the rivets may e extended throu h the first-named marginal edges of the strips. Inwardly of the outermost edges of the portions of theprotecting4 strips extending over the inner faces of the end walls, the strips are folded upon themselves to provide ledges to which the ends of the supporting rails are secured. This in the present instance is brought about by extendmg the ends of the sup orting rails 26 through openings in the lev ges and forming eyelets to prevent displacement. In the illustrated disclosure of the invention, the supporting rails consist of lengths of heavy wire or other suitable rod stock and the supporting rails ma be either round or flat. Any number of tliese rails may be provided and any desired spacing thereof across the crate ma be employed but herein I have shown the These supporting rails serve to support the bottles in the crate. To hold the bottles in vertical position and against displacement and from contact with each other, lower and upper sets of dividing rails are provided. The lower set of dividing rails include strips 27 which eX- tend between the side walls 8 and 9. In addition to the strips 27 the lower dividing rails include strips 29 extended between the end walls 10 and 11. The strips 27 are spaced from each other as are the strips 29 and substantially square openings are defined between the intersections of the rails and between the rails and the walls. The bottles may be inserted through the oienings thus delined to dispose the lower en s of the bottles on the supporting rails. The ends of the strips 27 are connected to the side walls 10 and 11 and in the present instance where three boards are used, these strips are retained in position by securing devices such as nails 28 which are 'extended into the middle 'strips 13 and 16. The end portions of the strips 29 are fixed to the end walls 10 and .11 and are extended into slots, such as Aare indicated by 30 in Fig. 5, formed in the boards 19 and 21. A long nail or other suitable securing device extends from the lower edge and through l the boards, the end portions of the strips, and

the slots 30 to thereby retain the strips in position. If desired, the end portions of the strips 27 may be secured in position in a similar manner. The strips 27 and 29 in the present instance are formed from strips of sheet metal or flat wire. Theportions of the strips 27 and 29 intermediate the intersections are folded downwardly on arcs to thereby provide 'flanges 32 which embrace the bottles extended used for milk bottles, are preferably disposed in a vertical location wherein they will engage the bottles just below the juncture of the neck and body portions thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2. These upper dividing rails consist of strlps 33 extended arallel with the strips 27 and strips 35 extend) 29. In the illustrated construction the ends of the strips 33 rest on the u per edge of the boards 13 and 16 and suita e securin devices, such as nails 34, are extended t erethrough to thereby connect the ends of these strips to the rails. The end portions of the strips 35 are disposed in slots 36 simi-lar to the slots 30 and are retained in position by securing devices such as the long nails 37 which are extended downwardly from the upper edges of the boards 19 and 21'. It is of course understood that the ends of the strips 33 might be retained in position by being extended parallel with the strips .I

ed into slots in the side walls. However, in the present instance the ends of the strips 27 and 33 are respectively connected to the boards 13 and'16 while lthe ends of the4 strips 29 andV 33 are respectively connected to the boards 19 and 2l. Thus by joining the ends of the boards 13 and 16 to the boards 19 and 21,`after the rails have been secured thereto, a unit structure is provided which greatly facilitates the assembling of the crate. The strips 33 are disposed to extend above the stri s 35 to contact therewith at the intersections t ereof. To increase the rigidity of the structure it is desirable that the intersections of the rails 27 and 29 and 33 and 35 be interconnected. One manner of accomplishing this is illustrated in detail in Fig. 8 wherein it is shown that a tang 33 is struck from the strips 33 which is extended through an opening 1n the strips 35 and then folded back upon strip 35 to thereby secure the intersecting portions of the strips together. Such an arrangement may be provided at each of the intersections and therefore the rigidity of the structure from sheet metal or flat wire and are preferably of greater width than the strips 27 and 29. The portions of the strips 33 and 35 intermediate the intersections are folded downwardly alon arcs to provide flanges l39 which embrace the ttles. The strips 33 and 35 are preferably of a width suicient to substantially enclose the area between the bottles, and platforms 38 are defined' at the intersectlons of these strips. Since these platforms are provided and as the area around the bottles 1s substantially enclosed it is possible to arrange ice or other refrigerant about the bottles which will be supported bythe platforms and the stri s and this ice will cool the bottles and the milk) therein. As the ice melts, the water resulting will pass from the strips and flow down over the bottles to thereby even more effectively cool the same. To insure this passage of the water to the bottles, the platforms may be embossed to include upwardly extending portions which will serve to prevent the collection of water thereon and to insure the passage of the water from the platforms to the bottles so that it may iiow thereover. In use the sides of milk bottle crates are sometimes crushed and it is therefore advantageous to provide a reenforcvement along thesides. Moreover, the anchorage for the supporting rails may give way and there will be a tendency for these rails to fall away from the crate. To prevent these conditions, I provide the reenforcing strip 40 of substantially T- shaped cross section which may be rolled to embody a deep stem and a flat rounded edge head or table. The stem portion 41 of the strip is extended upwardly and openings are provided therein close to the head through which the supporting rails 26 may be passed to be supported thereby. The ends of the stem portion 41 are cut away to provide foot portions 42 which are extended mto slots. 43 in the walls of the crate to support the reenforcing strip. The abutments provided' by the cut away ends of the stem portion 41 are arranged inwardly of the side walls and serve to provide a reenforcement therefor. Relatively Wide brackets 44 are disposed medially on the side walls and the abutments provided by cutting away the end portions of the stem 41 engage these brackets and therefore the reenforce provided by these abutments may be spread over a relatively wide area. However, these brackets 44 have a more important function in that they aid in supporting the reenforcing strip for the foot portions 42 are extended through openings in the brackets and rest on the lower edges of these openings to be supported thereby. To ensure connection of the brackets 44 to the side walls and therefore, to cause the reenforcing strip to be supported from the side walls, lugs 45 areV provided at the upper ends of the brackets which are extended below the adjacent rails 33 to be retained in position by the retaining retained in position by the securing devices for these rails, the rails extending through the tongues therefrom. Thus an e ective reenforce is provided for the side walls which llkewise provides a support for the reenforce for the supporting rails and as these brackets are fixed to the side walls, it is manifest that the reenforce for the supporting rails is carried by the side walls.

In Fig. 10 a modified form of construction of the anchorage for the supportin rails is shown and herem a flat strip 49 is folded upon itself to provide a ledge 50 to which the ends of the supporting rails 26 may be secured, as for example, in the manner previously described. The strip 49 is retained in position by rivets 51.

In Figs. 6'and 7 I have shown a modified form of construction and herein both the side and end walls are formed of three boards, the boards in the end walls being respectively indicated by 52, 53 and'54, while the boards in the side walls are respectively indicated by 55, 56 and 57. An angle plate 58 has one section thereof arranged along the ends of the boards 52, 53 and 54 and when nails or other suitable securing devices are passed through the marginal ends of the boards 55, 56 and 57 into the boards of the end wall this angle plate is anchored in position. Further anchorage may be provided by extending securing devices through the other section thereof into the boards of the end walls. At the lower ends of the walls, shoe strips 59 are provided and a plate 60 may be arranged between the upper edge of corresponding of these strips and the lower edges of the board'54 to be retained in position by the securing devices 61 which .secure the strips 59 in position. This plate 60 may provide a ledge 62 to which the ends of the supporting rails 26 may be secured as, for example, in the manner previously described. If desired, a. right angularly extending marginal portion may be provided on the plate 60 to prevent inward movement thereof and this may be done by arranging this marginal portion on the outer face of the board 54. A corner protecting member 63 may be extended around the corner and the rivets 64 or other suitable securing devices may be extended through the strip 59 and the member 63 and a portion of the plate 58, as illustrated in Fig. 7, to not only retain the corner protecting member 63 in position but also to connect the strip 59 to the member 58 which will manifestly prevent displacement of the strip 59. If desired, a plate similar to the plate 60 might be used in the first described construction of the crate as an anchorage for the supporting rails 70 openings in the brackets formed b 4 striking 26, it being within the purview of my invention to provide any suitable device which will embody a ledge to which the supporting rails may be secured.

5 In the foregoing description I have set retained in position. Moreover, divlding rails are provided for the bottles which serve to neatly retain them in the crate to prevent unwarranted movement thereof and to hold the bottles against contact with each other. The uppermost of these dividing rails are of sufficient width to substantially enclose the area about the bottles whereby a refrigerating medium may be retained thereon around the bottles to effectively cool the same. Furthermore, these dividing rails are neatly supported in position and may be arranged in a unit which may be installed in the crate in a manner which will greatly facilitate the construction thereof. In addition the side walls of the crate are effectively reenforced and the supporting rails are retained in position by portions of this reenforce to prevent unwarranted displacement thereof.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claimz' 1. In a milk bottle crate including side and end walls, protecting strips embracing the 4o lower edges of said end walls, means providing ledges on the inner sides of said end walls in juxtaposition to the lower edges thereof, supporting members extending between sald end Walls and having the ends thereof connected to said ledges, and means securing said strips and the ledges to said end walls.

2.. In a milk bottle crate including side and end wall members, strips at the lower edges of opposite of said members and bent to provlde portions embracing said lower edges and the adjacent portions of the sides of said opposlte members, means securing said strips to sald opposite members, inwardly extending ledges on the portions of said strips engaging the inner sides of said opposite members, and supporting members extending between said opposite members and having the ends thereof secured to said ledges.

3. In a milk bottle crate including side and end wall members, strips at the lower edges of opposite of said members and including portlons embracing the lower edges and adjacent portions of the sides of the opposite members, means securing said strips to said 5 opposite members, the portions of said strips engaging the inner sides of said o .posite members being folded upon themse ves to provide inwardly extending ledges, and supporting members extending between said 0p.- posite members and having the ends'thereof secured to said ledges.

4. In a milk bottle crate including side and end wall members, strips at the lower edges of opposite of said members and includln portlons embracing the lower edges and a jacent portions of the sides of the opposite members, plates including portions mounted in said end walls adjacent said strips and including other portions providing inwardly projecting ledges, supporting members eX- tending between said opposite members and having the ends thereof secured to said ledges, and means securing said strips and said plates to said end walls.

5. In a crate which has side and end walls and dividing rails extending transversely and longitudinally thereof, the combination therewith of supporting members at the bottom of the crate and extending between the end walls, means connecting the ends of the supporting members to the end walls, a re-v enforcing strip for said supporting members and positioned substantially midway between said end walls, and means connected to the side walls and to certain of the dividing rails and supporting said reenforcing strip.

6. In a crate which has side and end walls and dividing rails extending transversely and longitudinally thereof, lthe combination therewith of supporting members at the bottom of the crate and extending between the end walls, means connecting the ends of the supporting members'to the end walls, reen forcing plates connected to the side Walls and certain of the dividing rails and positioned substantially midway between the end walls and having openings therein, and a reenforcing member for the supporting members and having the ends thereof extended through the openings in said renenforcing plates.

7. In a crate which has side and end walls, supporting members at the bottom of the crate and extending between the end walls, means connecting the ends of the supporting members to the end walls, reenforcing plates connected to the side walls and positioned substantially midway between the end walls and having openings therein, and a reenforcing member for the supporting members and having the ends thereof extended through the openings in said reenforcing plates.

8. In a crate which has side and end walls therein in alignment with the openings in said reenforcing plates, supporting members at the bottom of the crate and extending between the end walls, means connecting the ends of the supporting members to the end walls, and a"reenforc1ng strip for the supporting members and having the ends thereof extended through the openings in said reenforcing plates and side walls.

9. In a' crate which has side and end walls and dividing rails extending transversely and longitudinally thereof, the combination therewith of reenforcing plates connected to the-side walls and certain of the dividing rails and positioned substantially midway between the end walls and having openings cluding o havingl openings Itherein in ali therein, said side walls having openings therein in alignment with the openings in said reenforcing plates, supporting members at the bottom of the crate and extending between the end walls, means connecting the` ends of the supporting members to the end walls, and a substantially T-shaped reenforcing'strip having openings in the stem thereof through which the supporting members are extended, said reenforcin strip having and side walls and the ends of the stem engagng and reenforcing said plates, supporting members extended through the openings in the stem of said reenforcing strip, means connected at the lower edges of said end walls and providing ledges, and means connecting the ends of said supporting members to said ledges whereby said supporting members are held in position bysaid end walls and said reenforcmg strip.

ROBERT STODDARD.

its stem cut away at the en s thereof and having s aid ends extended through said openings in said reenforcing plates and side walls whereby the ends of the stem thereof engage and reenfrce said supporting plates. i

10. In a crate which 'has side and end walls and dividing rails extending longitudinally thereof, the combination therewith of reenforcing plates connected to the side walls .and certain of the dividing rails and positioned substantially midway between the end walls and having openings therein, said side walls having openings therein in alignment with the openings in said reenforcing lates a reenforcmg strip having. the ends t ereo extending through the openings in said re# enforcing plates and said side walls, supporting lmembers having the medial portions thereof connected to said reenforcing strip, means connected at the lower edges of sald end walls and providing ledges, and means connectin the ends of said supporting members to said ledges whereby said supporting of sald reenforcing strip lbeing extended through openings in said' reenforcing plates 4l'us 

